Wesermarsch music school on the verge of bankruptcy: district cancels support!

Wesermarsch music school on the verge of bankruptcy: district cancels support!

There is alarm at the Wesermarsch music school: The chairman of the board, Klaus Hanke, has informed the district administration that the music school is on the verge of bankruptcy. Today, July 2, 2025, it was announced that an application for financial support was rejected by the district council. This puts the school in direct danger of closing its doors. The district is planning to withdraw financial support in order to avoid double funding. District Administrator Stephan Siefken justifies this approach by saying that considerable sums have already been invested in the music school in recent years, including to subsidize lessons for adults.

The specific need to avert insolvency is alarming: the music school needs to cover the expected deficit of 76,730 euros by the end of 2025 and would have to forego a reclaim of 40,109 euros. In addition, a grant of between 200,000 and 300,000 euros is required for 2026. There are currently 618 students attending the facility, whose contract with the district will be terminated at the end of 2025 with one abstention.

Polarizing decisions in the district council

On March 31, the district council decided to provide the music school with 150,000 euros annually for the next three years. However, these funds are subject to the condition that they are used for a specific purpose for the musical promotion of children and young people. In order to cushion the cost increases, there is also an annual increase of five percent.

The previous district council meeting, which recently took place in the district hall, dealt intensively with this topic. The finance committee forwarded the music school's application to the district committee on June 17 without discussion, which ultimately rejected the application. District council member Jürgen Janssen from the Greens expressed concerns about the high subsidies to a private association. Together with the other members of the district council, including the newly elected department head Sindy Nestler, a new contract with the music school is now being negotiated.

A look outside the box

Such challenges are not only found in the Wesermarsch. Music schools across Germany are facing a similar fate. A ruling by the Federal Social Court is forcing many music schools to employ paid staff, which creates financial burdens. In Hesse and Leipzig, for example, many public music schools are faced with the challenge of meeting increased costs through social security contributions, which could potentially increase fees for students. Private schools are particularly affected because they do not receive any public subsidies and unfortunately cannot avoid such drastic increases in fees.

In view of these developments, music schools urgently need support and clear regulations from federal politics. The Association of Adult Education Centers has long been calling for more legal certainty to ensure the financial stability of music schools. This is the only way to preserve the valuable cultural offerings and continue to give young people access to music education. The talks between the association and the district administration have so far failed because the board did not have time to attempt mediation. A rethink is required so that no other music schools are threatened with insolvency in the future.